Bottle adornment device

ABSTRACT

A bottle adornment device includes a clamp assembly having a form portion and a clamp portion engaging the form portion. A bottle engaging element is carried between the form portion and the clamp portion, and a decorative item carried by the form portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to packaging.

More particularly, the present invention relates to adornments forbottles having necks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of product packaging, various ways of drawing attention toand generally making packaging visually pleasing have been developed. Inthe area of bottles having necks, such as beer bottles, soda bottles,and particularly, wine bottles, much effort has gone into making theshape and the labels attractive to potential buyers. Additionalpackaging is also often used to increase the presentation of a bottle.The additional packaging includes gift bags and tubular containers, aswell as decorations directly attachable to the bottle. While gift bagsand tubular containers serve the desired purpose, decorations attacheddirectly to the bottles have been more problematic. The primary problemwith this type of adornment is the attachment of the decorative item tothe bottle while maintaining the decorative features and avoiding autilitarian look. In prior devices, attachment mechanisms are weak andare easily damaged.

In particular, various cloth decorations have been developed to adorn abottle neck. These include necktie shaped decorations attached byelastic bands to the neck of the bottle. The elastic band is typicallysewn to the fabric of the decorative element. While somewhat effective,the attachment of the decorative element falls short in effectivenessand durability. The attachment device is ineffective because the knot orother portions of the necktie shaped element is distorted by the elasticband, rendering the overall look less pleasing. Since this is a deviceintended to increase the attractiveness of a bottle, anything that isdetrimental to an esthetically pleasing appearance makes the deviceineffective. These devices are also subject to breakage under standardconditions of use. The elastic is often unintentionally separated fromthe decorative element due to failure of the stitching attaching theelastic member to the decorative fabric element.

It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing andother deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide an adornment for abottle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle adornmentand attachment device that is robust.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bottleadornment and attachment device that is effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instantinvention provided is a bottle adornment device including a clampassembly having a form portion with a body having a front surface, aback surface, a first post receptacle extending from the back surface ofthe body, terminating in a first end and a second post receptacleextending from the back surface of the body spaced apart from the firstpost receptacle and terminating in a second end. The clamp assembly alsoincludes a clamp portion engaging the form portion, the clamp portionhaving a body with a front surface, a back surface, a first shaft memberextending from the back surface of the body of the clamp portion,terminating in a first end and a second shaft member extending from theback surface of the body of the clamp portion, spaced apart from thefirst clamp portion and terminating in a second end, the first shaftmember receivable by the first post receptacle and the second shaftmember receivable by the second post receptacle. A bottle engagingelement is carried between the form portion and the clamp portion. Alsoprovided is a decorative item having a flexible material carried by theform portion with the first post receptacle and the second postreceptacle extending through at least a portion of the flexiblematerial.

In a specific aspect, the first post receptacle and the second postreceptacle each includes an interior volume divided by an inwardlydirected shoulder, forming complemental engagement elements, and thefirst shaft member and the second shaft member each include anengagement member for engaging the complemental engagement elements. Anengagement surface is formed between the first post receptacle and thesecond post receptacle on the back surface of the body of the formportion, and a friction surface is carried by or formed in the frontsurface of the body of the clamp portion intermediate the first shaftmember and the second shaft member. When the clamp portion is engaged tothe form portion, the bottle engaging element is securely capturedbetween the engagement surface of the form portion and the frictionsurface of the clamp portion.

In yet a further aspect a bottle adornment device is provided whichincludes a bottle having a neck extending from a body, a clamp assemblyhaving a form portion with a body having a front surface, a backsurface, a first post receptacle extending from the back surface of thebody, terminating in a first end and a second post receptacle extendingfrom the back surface of the body spaced apart from the first postreceptacle and terminating in a second end, and a clamp portion engagingthe form portion. A bottle engaging element is carried between the formportion and the clamp portion and encircling the neck of the bottle. Adecorative item formed of a flexible material is carried by the formportion with the first post receptacle and the second post receptacleextending through at least a portion of the flexible material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific objects and advantages of the instant invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction withthe drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle adornment device according tothe present invention, as it would appear attached to a bottle;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bottle adornment device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clamp assembly according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the clamp assembly of FIG. 3 taken alongline 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a form portion;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the form portion of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the form portion of FIG. 6, taken alongline 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a partial view of the bottle adornment device with the clampportion removed;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a clamp portion;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the clamp portion of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a clamp portion;and

FIG. 12 is a partial view of the bottle adornment device illustratingthe clamp assembly retaining the loop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is firstdirected to FIGS. 1 and 2 which illustrate a bottle adornment devicegenerally designated 10. Adornment device 10 is shown as it appearscarried by a bottle 12, having a body portion 14 from which a neckportion 15 extends. Adornment device 12 includes a decorative item 16which can be in the form of any necktie, including a cravat, bow tie andthe like, or as illustrated, a conventional straight tie having an apronportion 18 and a knot portion 19. Adornment device 10 further includesan attachment mechanism 20 which is employed to attach decorative item16 to bottle 12. As can be seen, decorative item 16 is position so as tobe carried by bottle 12 preferably at the junction of neck portion 15and body portion 14, and in the case of the straight tie, hangs downover body portion 15.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, attachment mechanism 20 includes abottle engaging element, which in this embodiment is a loop 22 (FIGS. 1and 2) of an elastic material and a clamp assembly 24 (FIGS. 3 and 4).Clamp assembly 24 includes a form portion 26 and a clamp portion 28.Clamp portion 28 is received by and coupled to form portion 26, forpurposes which will be addressed presently.

With additional reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, form portion 26 includesa body 30 having a front surface 32 and a back surface 33. Form portion26 is intended to provide support and shape to knot portion 19 ofdecorative item 16. Form portion 26 further includes post receptacles 35and 36. Post receptacles 35 and 36 each extend from back surface 33 ofform portion 26 and terminate at ends 38 and 39, respectively. Postreceptacle 35 defines an interior volume divided into a volume 40 havingan inner diameter and extending from end 38, and a volume 41 extendingfrom volume 40 to body 30 and having a larger inner diameter. Aninwardly directed shoulder 42 is formed at the junction of volumes 40and 41. Post receptacle 36 defines an interior volume divided into avolume 45 having an inner diameter and extending from end 39, and avolume 46 extending from volume 45 to body 30 and having a larger innerdiameter. An inwardly directed shoulder 47 is formed at the junction ofvolumes 45 and 46. Post receptacles 35 and 36 are spaced apart,preferably in a vertical direction in orientation with decorative item16 and bottle 12, with an engagement surface 49 formed therebetween onthe back surface 33 of body 30.

Turning now to FIG. 8, it can be seen that the material of decorativeitem 16 is wrapped around form portion 26 to form knot portion 19. Inthe preferred embodiment, decorative item 16 can be formed of fabricstypically used for conventional neckties, such as woven fabrics of silk,artificial fibers, and the like. It will be understood thatsubstantially any flexible material capable of being wrapped about formportion 26 can be employed. The construction of knot portion 19 can beaccomplished in a variety of manners and is subject to taste and desiredoutcome. What is common to the various knot portions formed, is thatpost receptacles 35 and 36 extend through the material of decorativeitem 16 and retain the material in position. Post receptacles 35 and 36can also act to stabilize and strengthen the knot portion to preventdistortions thereof.

Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, with additional reference to FIGS. 9and 10, clamp portion 28 includes a body 50 having a front surface 52and a back surface 53. Clamp portion 28 is intended to be received byand engage form portion 26, retaining loop 22 of elastic materialtherebetween (FIG. 12). It will be understood that other bottle engagingelements can be employed, but that the elastic loop allows an easilyapplied and firm engagement. Clamp portion 28 further includes shaftmembers 55 and 56. Shaft members 55 and 56 each extend from frontsurface 52 of clamp portion 28, and terminate at ends 58 and 59,respectively. Shaft member 55 includes an engagement member, which inthis embodiment includes a pair of opposing flanges 60 extending fromopposing sides of end 58 to a diameter greater than the inner diameterof volume 40. Pair of flanges 60 is sloped toward back surface 53 andare of sufficient flexibility to allow compression thereof toward shaft55 when passing through volume 40. Upon reaching the greater innerdiameter of volume 41, pair of flanges 60 expand to their greaterdiameter and engage a complemental engagement element, which in thisembodiment is shoulder 42. Shaft member 56 includes an engagementmember, which in this embodiment includes a pair of opposing flanges 62extending from opposing sides of end 59 to a diameter greater than theinner diameter of volume 45. Pair of flanges 62 is sloped toward backsurface 53 and are of sufficient flexibility to allow compressionthereof toward shaft 56 when passing through volume 45. Upon reachingthe greater inner diameter of volume 46, pair of flanges 62 expand totheir greater diameter and engage a complemental engagement element,which in this embodiment is shoulder 47.

Still referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, clamp portion 28 includes a frictionsurface 64 carried by or formed in front surface 52 of body 50intermediate shaft members 55 and 56. In this embodiment the frictionsurface 64 includes a plurality of spike elements 65. When clamp portion28 is engaged to form portion 26, loop 22 is securely captured betweenengagement surface 49 of form portion 26 and friction surface 64 ofclamp portion 28 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 12). In capturing loop 22 in thismanner, loop 22 is securely and immovable held in position withoutplacing any stress on decorative item 16. Thus a robust and effectiveattachment mechanism is provided.

It should be understood that other engagement element and complementalengagement elements can be employed. With reference to FIG. 11, anotherembodiment of a clamp portion generally designated 70, is illustrated.Clamp portion 70 includes a body 71 having a front surface 72 and a backsurface 73. Clamp portion 70 further includes shaft members 75 and 76.Shaft members 75 and 76 each extend from front surface 72 of clampportion 70, and terminate at ends 78 and 79, respectively. Shaft member75 includes an engagement member, which in this embodiment includes asingle flange 80 extending from one side of end 78 and sloped towardback surface 73. Shaft member 75 is of sufficient flexibility to allowdeflection thereof when passing through volume 40. Upon reaching thegreater inner diameter of volume 41, shaft member 75 returns to a normalposition and flange 80 engages shoulder 42. Shaft member 76 includes anengagement member, which in this embodiment includes a single flange 82extending from one side of end 79 and sloped toward back surface 73.Shaft member 76 is of sufficient flexibility to allow deflection thereofwhen passing through volume 45. Upon reaching the greater inner diameterof volume 46, shaft member 76 returns to a normal position and flange 82engages shoulder 47.

Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen forpurposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art.To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart fromthe spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within thescope thereof, which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of thefollowing claims.

1. A bottle adornment device comprising: a clamp assembly including aform portion and a clamp portion engaging the form portion; a bottleengaging element carried between the form portion and the clamp portion;and a decorative item carried by the form portion.
 2. A bottle adornmentdevice as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clamp portion includesengagement elements and the form portion includes complementalengagement elements for receiving and engaging the engagement elements.3. A bottle adornment device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the formportion includes a body having a front surface, a back surface, a firstpost receptacle extending from the back surface of the body, terminatingin a first end and a second post receptacle extending from the backsurface of the body spaced apart from the first post receptacle andterminating in a second end, the first post receptacle and the secondpost receptacle extending through at least a portion of the decorativeitem.
 4. A bottle adornment device as claimed in claim 3 wherein thefirst post receptacle and the second post receptacle each includes aninterior volume divided by an inwardly directed shoulder, forming thecomplemental engagement elements
 5. A bottle adornment device as claimedin claim 4 wherein the clamp portion includes a body having a frontsurface, a back surface, a first shaft member extending from the backsurface of the body of the clamp portion, terminating in a first end anda second shaft member extending from the back surface of the body of theclamp portion, spaced apart from the first clamp portion and terminatingin a second end, the first shaft member receivable by the first postreceptacle and the second shaft member receivable by the second postreceptacle.
 6. A bottle adornment device as claimed in claim 5 whereinthe first shaft member and the second shaft member each include anengagement member for engaging the complemental engagement elements. 7.A bottle adornment device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the engagementmembers include a pair of opposing flanges extending from opposing sidesof the first end of the first shaft member and the second end of thesecond shaft member to a diameter greater than an inner diameter of theinwardly directed shoulder, the flanges being sloped and of sufficientflexibility to compress toward the first shaft member and the secondshaft member upon passing through the shoulder then expanding to thediameter greater than the inner diameter of the inwardly directedshoulder.
 8. A bottle adornment device as claimed in claim 6 wherein theengagement members include a single flange extending from one side ofeach of the first end of the first shaft member and the second end ofthe second shaft member, the single flange is sloped toward the backsurface of clamp portion and the first shaft member and the second shaftmember are of sufficient flexibility to allow deflection thereof whenthe flange engages the inwardly directed shoulder, and upon the flangepassing the shoulder, returns to a normal position with the flangeengaging the shoulder.
 9. A bottle adornment device as claimed in claim3 wherein an engagement surface is formed between the first postreceptacle and the second post receptacle on the back surface of thebody of the form portion, and a friction surface is carried by or formedin the front surface of the body of the clamp portion intermediate thefirst shaft member and the second shaft member, and wherein when theclamp portion is engaged to the form portion the bottle engaging elementis securely captured between the engagement surface of the form portionand the friction surface of the clamp portion.
 10. A bottle adornmentdevice comprising: a clamp assembly comprising: a form portion includinga body having a front surface, a back surface, a first post receptacleextending from the back surface of the body, terminating in a first endand a second post receptacle extending from the back surface of the bodyspaced apart from the first post receptacle and terminating in a secondend; and a clamp portion engaging the form portion, the clamp portionincluding a body having a front surface, a back surface, a first shaftmember extending from the back surface of the body of the clamp portion,terminating in a first end and a second shaft member extending from theback surface of the body of the clamp portion, spaced apart from thefirst clamp portion and terminating in a second end, the first shaftmember receivable by the first post receptacle and the second shaftmember receivable by the second post receptacle; a bottle engagingelement carried between the form portion and the clamp portion; and adecorative item including a flexible material carried by the formportion with the first post receptacle and the second post receptacleextending through at least a portion of the flexible material.
 11. Abottle adornment device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first postreceptacle and the second post receptacle each includes an interiorvolume divided by an inwardly directed shoulder, forming thecomplemental engagement elements
 12. A bottle adornment device asclaimed in claim 11 wherein the first shaft member and the second shaftmember each include an engagement member for engaging the complementalengagement elements.
 13. A bottle adornment device as claimed in claim12 wherein the engagement members include a pair of opposing flangesextending from opposing sides of the first end of the first shaft memberand the second end of the second shaft member to a diameter greater thanan inner diameter of the inwardly directed shoulder, the flanges beingsloped and of sufficient flexibility to compress toward the first shaftmember and the second shaft member upon passing through the shoulderthen expanding to the diameter greater than the inner diameter of theinwardly directed shoulder.
 14. A bottle adornment device as claimed inclaim 12 wherein the engagement members include a single flangeextending from one side of each of the first end of the first shaftmember and the second end of the second shaft member, the single flangeis sloped toward the back surface of clamp portion and the first shaftmember and the second shaft member are of sufficient flexibility toallow deflection thereof when the flange engages the inwardly directedshoulder, and upon the flange passing the shoulder, returns to a normalposition with the flange engaging the shoulder.
 15. A bottle adornmentdevice as claimed in claim 10 wherein an engagement surface is formedbetween the first post receptacle and the second post receptacle on theback surface of the body of the form portion, and a friction surface iscarried by or formed in the front surface of the body of the clampportion intermediate the first shaft member and the second shaft member,and wherein when the clamp portion is engaged to the form portion thebottle engaging element is securely captured between the engagementsurface of the form portion and the friction surface of the clampportion.
 16. A bottle adornment device comprising: a bottle having aneck extending from a body; a clamp assembly including a form portionincluding a body having a front surface, a back surface, a first postreceptacle extending from the back surface of the body, terminating in afirst end and a second post receptacle extending from the back surfaceof the body spaced apart from the first post receptacle and terminatingin a second end, and a clamp portion engaging the form portion; a bottleengaging element carried between the form portion and the clamp portionand encircling the neck of the bottle; and a decorative item including aflexible material carried by the form portion with the first postreceptacle and the second post receptacle extending through at least aportion of the flexible material.
 17. A bottle adornment device asclaimed in claim 16 wherein the clamp portion includes a body having afront surface, a back surface, a first shaft member extending from theback surface of the body of the clamp portion, terminating in a firstend and a second shaft member extending from the back surface of thebody of the clamp portion, spaced apart from the first clamp portion andterminating in a second end, the first shaft member receivable by thefirst post receptacle and the second shaft member receivable by thesecond post receptacle.
 18. A bottle adornment device as claimed inclaim 17 wherein the first post receptacle and the second postreceptacle each includes an interior volume divided by an inwardlydirected shoulder, and wherein the first shaft member and the secondshaft member each include an engagement member for engaging the inwardlydirected shoulder.
 19. A bottle adornment device as claimed in claim 17wherein an engagement surface is formed between the first postreceptacle and the second post receptacle on the back surface of thebody of the form portion, and a friction surface is carried by or formedin the front surface of the body of the clamp portion intermediate thefirst shaft member and the second shaft member, and wherein when theclamp portion is engaged to the form portion, the bottle engagingelement is securely captured between the engagement surface of the formportion and the friction surface of the clamp portion.